Pak HC gets access to Altaf

LONDON - Acting Pakistani High Commissioner to the UK, Imran Mirza, on Thursday met with MQM chief at the hospital where he was under treatment after British government granted Pakistan consular access to Altaf Hussain. After the meeting, Imran Mirza said Altaf was in high spirits, adding that the MQM chief thanked the prime minister and the Pakistani public for support.He said the police will question Altaf after he is discharged from the hospital. The procedure for Altaf's angiography was underway at the hospital in London.The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) had said on Thursday that Pakistan's request for consular access to MQM chief Altaf Hussain had been passed to the Scotland Yard. Altaf is currently in police custody at a private hospital after he was arrested for suspicion of money laundering from his North London home on Tuesday. The MQM chief had to undergone several medical tests and an angiography procedure was to take place Thursday. The Pakistan High Commission on the advice of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had written a letter to the FCO seeking consular access to Altaf Hussain. The FCO confirmed receiving the request and said it had been passed on to relevant authorities.Earlier, Altaf was issued the National Identity Card for Overseas Pakistanis (Nicop) as well as a Pakistani passport, Information Minister Pervaiz Rashid told reporters in Islamabad. According to Minister Pervaiz Rasheed, Altaf had been issued the documents and his party leaders had been informed of the development.Moreover, police concluded the search of Altaf’s house which had been going on since Tuesday 5:30 am. Separately, speaking to media representatives on Thursday, MQM leader Farooq Sattar said the party would continue its protests until chief’s health was assured. He, however, said the situation in the metropolis had returned to normal and that they had appealed to the business community to resume operations. He said lawyers representing the MQM chief would first review the situation before filing a bail application, adding that they were in contact with police and Altaf. He said people in various cities of Pakistan had shown solidarity with the MQM chief and added that the protests had proved Karachi was a peaceful city. “We are worried for our leader’s health and safety,” Sattar added.

This news was published in The Nation newspaper. Read complete newspaper of 06-Jun-2014 here.